- After dropping a heartbreaking overtime loss Friday, the ETSU women's soccer team lost a tough 1-0 decision to Atlantic Sun Conference foe Mercer Sunday afternoon at Bear Field, in Macon Ga. With the loss ETSU falls to 5-8-1 overall and 3-4-1 in A-Sun play, while Mercer improves to 9-4-3 overall and a league-leading 6-1-1 in conference action.

"Basically we didn't come out ready to play," said head coach Heather Henson. "We needed to do a better job focusing on the task at hand. Mercer did a great job playing their game and really came out with a lot of emotion with it being their senior day. Our girls couldn't find feet, giving them more possessions and opportunities throughout the match."

Early in the contest Mercer came out strong outshooting the Bucs 14-1 in the opening half. Despite the consistent offensive attacks by the Bears, ETSU freshman goalkeeper Megan Masch (Virginia Beach, Va.) kept the Bucs alive, turning away every shot, as both teams headed into halftime scoreless.

"Megan (Masch) did an outstanding job today," said Henson. "She made some huge critical saves throughout the first-half. She got injured on a play in the second-half, but came back in and did an excellent job holding Mercer off as long as she could."

As the second half of play opened Mercer continued to put pressure on the Bucs, finally breaking the scoreless tie, as Olivia Tucker headed home her seventh goal of the season, taking a crossing pass from Lizzy Shaughness in the 80th minute.

Overall, the Bears looked like one of the top offensive teams in the league, outshooting the Bucs 19-4, while amassing 12-1 advantage in corner kicks.

ETSU returns to action as they host conference foe Stetson, with a 4:00 p.m., kickoff Friday, at Summers-Taylor Stadium.